Hi
Great to hear you wish to become a Careers Adviser! Welcome to a fantastic vocation. And as you may have spotted already, it is a vocation, not just a job or profession, for many reasons. :)
I've been a Careers Guidance Practitioner (Careers Adviser) for around 15 years (with a prior corporate career in HR/L&D/recruitment) and have worked in multiple youth and adult career settings both public and private sector.
It is a lovely job - very rewarding and you are always learning, always researching something new to ensure you have the very latest information to support student discussions, research, planning and applications. We need to be up to date on the changing workplace, skills needs, labour market intelligence, AI, the 4th Industrial Revolution, you name it, we have to be across it. Yet this is what makes it enjoyable too, so if you love learning, it is a great role.
In terms of salaries - have you looked into these and worked out what your needs are? If you work for a guidance supplier (that supplies CA's into schools) you will usually be paid between £28-£32K maximum (I know....awful for a graduate role, needing a Post Grad Diploma - just like a teacher- but much less well paid).
Whereas HE careers work can go up to around £40/45K but as mentioned by another poster this is going through a painful reduction in experienced, qualified and dedicated staff. Universities are now outsourcing this to avoid PAYE costs and unfortunately also using unpaid student peers in replacement of qualified CA's, which doesn't make any sense -apart from financial.
You can also work direct with schools (as an independent- so not via a guidance supplier) where you gain a better day rate, however you have 12 weeks of unpaid work to accommodate - either taking a break or if you need the income, finding other work. Very occasionally schools can employ you PAYE - but watch out for this as they often pay you even less for this, not accounting for your degree and Level 6 or 7 careers qualification.....
I work direct with students now - so I'm no longer in schools, colleges or Uni - I work like a Maths tutor - i.e. 1:1, multiple sessions for each student, to underpin research, planning, decision-making and applications - mostly supporting Y10-Y13, undergraduates and graduates with next step decisions.
Much of my work is helping graduates into their first professional role - handholding through the very difficult job search process. Especially those who have been trying a while, who have lost motivation/hope and parents are at their wits end, having tried to help for months/years sometimes. It is incredibly rewarding when they are offered a role, after considerable work on their part (and mine!).
So if you have the energy to market yourself constantly and run a business alongside being a careers practitioner, this is a field which is under served- very few CA's offer youth careers support privately (most work in schools). I wish they did offer private sessions much more! And that parents knew they could find careers support outside education if and when they need it (like other subject tutoring).
Look on our public body website www.thecdi.net and particularly https://www.thecdi.net/professional-qualified for more information.
There are some fantastic opportunities up north which I believe is where you are based? Many more roles are advertised in the north on Indeed with far fewer in the SE. So you are in a good position!
There are many ways to qualify - great you have found one you like. You can also approach guidance suppliers direct to see if they have any apprenticeships. Or County Councils- some supply CA's to schools (paid for).
I've gone on FAR too long!
If you have any Q's feel free to contact me direct.
Best of luck.
x